Laura Mvula

Laura Mvula’s dreamy blend of transparent songwriting and jazz-inflected neo-soul and R&B has made her one of the most acclaimed singers in the UK. Born in Birmingham in 1986, Mvula was introduced to jazz by her father before learning to play the piano at age eight. In her teens, she discovered the sounds of Nina Simone, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and other R&B luminaries. She honed her skills by studying composition at Birmingham Conservatoire before releasing her debut EP, She, in 2012. Her true breakout began with 2013’s Sing to the Moon. Fusing powerful R&B-leaning vocals with jazz soundscapes that swing or drift into the atmosphere, the project affirmed her knack for soul-searching tunes that can soundtrack a daydream. For 2016's The Dreaming Room, Mvula combined introspection with dance-floor thrills as she juxtaposed ambient jazz ("Show Me Love") with electronic-infused beats ("Let Me Fall"). She continues her experimenting ways on 2021’s Pink Noise, channeling ’80s retro pop for affecting anthems that can be as searing as they are buoyant—just like Mvula herself.